Just Drop It
An interactive installation that turns deleting digital clutter into a playful ritual.
TYPE
Interactive Art
TIMELINE
Nov 2022
TEAM
Seeun
Yaelim
Haesoo
ROLE
Conceptual Design
Web Design
3D Construction
LIVE WEBSITE
BUILT WITH
Next.js, Typescript
Overview
Just drop it is an interactive digital incineration installation that addresses digital hoarding by transforming data deletion into a tangible, participatory ritual.
Participants upload unwanted photos, which are printed and physically “incinerated” through a conveyor-based installation using light, sound, and bubbles. By reframing deletion not as loss but as a cathartic act of letting go, the project materializes digital erasure into an intentional and emotionally engaging experience.
CONCEPT
Background
In an era where our digital clutter is invisible yet ever-growing, I became fascinated by how effortlessly we accumulate data—thousands of forgotten photos, unused files, and meaningless screenshots, all quietly piling up in our devices. Unlike physical clutter, digital hoarding often goes unnoticed, yet it affects our mental space and even has real-world environmental consequences through energy consumption and server maintenance.
By creating a real-world digital incinerator, this project transformed the abstract act of erasing files into a visceral, multisensory experience. From the moment participants selected their useless files to watching them physically "burn" into light and sound, the goal was to make the audience reflect on the weight of their digital excess while also enjoying the symbolic freedom that comes with decluttering.
EXHIBITION
Circulation
This exhibition has two different spaces: an interior space & an exterior space. The audience can send their photos through the station inside and then face the outside digital incinerator. They can look around from the photo tank to the conveyor belt and incinerator to witness the process of burning out their data.
EXHIBITION
Interaction
EXHIBITION
Exhibition Video
REFLECTIONS
Takeaways
This project deepened my understanding of how physical and digital interactions can merge to influence behavior. By turning the abstract act of deleting data into a tangible and engaging experience, I explored how playful design can encourage self-awareness in our digital habits. Seeing participants actively engage in the ritual of deleting their data reinforced the power of interactive installations in shaping digital mindfulness.
What I Learned…
From initial ideation to final execution, I was involved in concept development, digital interface design, and spatial construction. Creating a multi-sensory installation required careful integration of lighting, sound, and physical interactions to create a cohesive and immersive experience. This hands-on process taught me how to navigate technical, creative, and logistical challenges to bring an abstract concept to life in a meaningful way.